K A R E N M A C K I N N O N P H D R N

PROPOSAL WRITING

PURPOSE

“The intent of the proposal is to construct a feasible plan for you to explore, understand or test a concern about which you are curious and do not know the answer.” (Reitsma-Street, 2007)

•  Proposal writing is about learning to clearly articulate the process of inquiry

•  Statement of intent and feasible plan to engage in research

AUDIENCE

•  Academic Committees (Reitsma-Street, 2007)

•  Practice Settings – negotiating a “project”

•  Small grant proposals – response to a funding call •  Format may be specified (usually shorter) •  Need to use the language of the call (see example)

•  Fellowships and large granting agencies (e.g. CIHR)

PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL

•  Usually the most difficult part of the process

•  Finding the focus of your inquiry

•  Length depends of purpose(2-5 pages)

•  Share with your supervisory committee

•  Being able to clearly state your overall aim (what you want to learn) and how this knowledge contributes to your discipline.

•  Write and re-write as your thinking develops

ACADEMIC PROPOSALS

Blueprint Type •  20-35 pages

•  Projects (e.g. literature review with identification of implications for policy & practice)

•  Thesis (literature review is integral to demonstrate gaps in knowledge)

(Reitsma-Street, 2007)

Foundations Type •  50-75 pages

• Dissertations (PhD)

•  More extensive literature review (substantive, theoretical & methodological)

• Draft Chapters

TYPICAL FORMAT

•  Introduction •  Background and Significance •  Literature Review •  Purpose & Objectives •  Methodology •  Ethical Considerations/Limitations •  Timeline & Budget (if required) •  References •  Appendices

INTRODUCTION

•  What do you want to learn more about & why?

•  What is your overall research question or phenomenon of interest?

•  Who are you and why do you want to study this in this way?

•  Be creative!!! (grab the reader’s attention)

•  Sometimes a practice story helps generate interest in your topic

BACKGROUND & SIGNIFICANCE

•  Provides your reader with a basic understanding of your topic/focus of your inquiry •  Assume your reader knows less about your topic than you

do •  Guide your reader through your thinking process

•  Makes a case for why your study is important •  Link to other studies that demonstrate the importance of

your inquiry focus •  Keep it real, don’t exaggerate

LITERATURE REVIEW

•  Depth required here will depend on the purpose of your proposal (e.g. some projects are literature reviews)

•  Purpose is to: •  Demonstrate that you know something about your topic •  Discuss what is already known about your topic (disciplinary

knowledge) •  Critically analyze the strengths & weakness of this body of

literature •  Identify gaps in knowledge

PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES

•  Needs to flow from: •  Your reflections on personal/professional experience •  The literature you have reviewed (empirical & theoretical )

•  Can be written in different ways •  A puzzle or problematic •  Overall purpose with specific objectives •  Research questions with or without hypotheses

•  Opportunity to clarify what drives a study •  e.g. your beliefs, values & assumptions

•  Conceptual and/or operational definitions (when relevant)

METHODOLOGY

What does methodology mean to you? •  Theoretically informed approaches to research? (Design) •  Opportunity to explicate epistemological assumptions? •  What is the relationship between methodology & research

methods?

•  Data collection methods (includes recruitment)

•  Analytic methods

•  Approaches to Knowledge Translation

ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

•  Relates to both research ethics and your profession

•  What are the implications of studying this (area of inquiry) in this way (links to methodology)?

•  Might not contain all the details required for your ethics application

•  If your research involves human participants, online tutorials from Tri-council (a must!)

http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/education/tutorial-didacticiel/

LIMITATIONS

• Demonstrates that you understand the limitations of your project

•  Relates to the epistemological assumptions & rigour of your methodology

• Most journals will require this section

TIMELINE

•  Be realistic

•  Remember other commitments & self-care

•  Remember to include realistic timelines for feedback from your supervisory committee (e.g. 2 week minimum)

•  Remember to build in time for Ethical Review

•  Sample backwards timelines (goal can be motivating)J

BUDGET

• A justified budget is VIP for a grant call

•  Request samples from supervisory committee

•  Read the grant carefully (exclusion criteria)

• Have someone else double check your math

REFERENCES & APPENDICES

•  Strongly recommend a reference manager system (e.g. Ref Works)

•  May include research instruments

•  May include recruitment posters, information for participants & consent forms (need for ethical review)

SUMMARY

•  Proposal writing reflects the process of inquiry & the purpose of the particular proposal

•  Begin by demonstrating why your inquiry is relevant for you and important for your discipline

•  Guide your reader through your thinking processes

•  Demonstrate your ability to summarize, critically analyze & synthesize literature

•  Demonstrate your understanding of your chosen approach to inquiry (including the epistemological assumptions & limitations)

REFLECTIONS

•  Student inquiry projects are a learning experience

•  Be clear, concise & creative. Have fun!!!

•  Seek support from your peers (some of these relationships may last a lifetime)